Batter Up! An Overview of NCAA Baseball
Not long after the rules of baseball were laid down, the first
collegiate baseball games were played in the United States. Until
recent years, college baseball took a back seat to the minor league
system for player development. However, as the minor leagues have
shrunk, MLB clubs have looked more to the college scene for new talent.
As interest in college baseball has grown, so has its postseason
tournament -- the College World Series. In the first two years, only
two teams squared off for the national title. Now, the full tournament
field is comprised of the nation’s 64 best squads; the eight winning
teams from the super regional levels advance to Omaha, Nebraska, for
the College World Series.
Since the College World Series started in 1947, the USC Trojans have
won 12 NCAA baseball championships, twice as many as the next school on
the list, the Texas Longhorns. Following them are Louisiana State and
Arizona State, with five trophies each, and Cal State Fullerton and the
Miami Hurricanes have four apiece.
NCAA Baseball Special Events